Calendar of Events

The Black Bear Half Marathon & 8k presented by Hunter Subaru is an exhilarating fall event that beckons both seasoned athletes and recreational runners alike. Nestled within the charm and beauty of Hendersonville, North Carolina, this race offers participants a unique opportunity to challenge their limits while immersing themselves in the splendor of the autumn season. Whether conquering the half marathon’s 13.1-mile stretch or embracing the spirited atmosphere of the 8k, participants love supportive community vibe, scenic course, and post-race festivities, including the Black Bear Fall Market!

If you’ve ever collected small, perfectly smooth pebbles and wondered what to do with them, this two-day workshop is the perfect solution! Using diamond encrusted drill bits, students will drill through these materials and then fabricate sterling silver wire and sheet to create stunning jewelry which may include pendants, earrings, rings and bracelets. Students will also learn about the soldering process, bezel and prong setting and a small amount of forging.

No experience is necessary but good eyesight or magnification is a must.

Students are asked to bring:
Small pebbles, ceramic shards, shells and sea glass if they have any (the instructor will bring some for their use as well)
Notebook and pen/pencil
Ultra fine tipped Sharpie pen
$399 plus materials
A materials list for students to purchase will be provided upon registration.

Carolina Memorial Sanctuary leads a conversation about death preparation, home funerals, and the cathartic act of participating in a loved one’s burial, Thurs. October 16 at Kanuga. Part of Kanuga’s Lunch & Learn series, the event begins with a forest bathing nature walk (weather permitting) at 10 a.m. followed by the Carolina Memorial Sanctuary presentation at 11 a.m. Enjoy a buffet lunch in Kanuga’s dining hall after the presentation. Cost: $20 (plus tax and fees). 471 Kanuga Chapel Dr. in Hendersonville. Registration and more info at kanuga.org/events.

Join us Saturday, October 18, 2025 for the 3rd Annual TreeTops 8.5 Mile Trail Race in DuPont State Recreational Forest near Brevard, North Carolina!

This race offers a unique opportunity to explore the spectacular 10,000 acres of rolling hills and towering trees that make up this beautiful forest. Take on the 8.5 mile challenging trail race – but beware! With nearly 1,000 feet of elevation gain it’s no walk in the park!

Join us at the Dupont Forest Festival afterwards from 10am – 3pm to visit with vendors, hike, yoga, bike, hunt waterfalls and learn outdoor recreation tips to last you a lifetime. Admission to the festival is FREE!

The TreeTops Trail Race is not just any ordinary event – it’s an exclusive experience only available within Dupont State Forest! So don’t miss out on this tree-mendous event and join us for an unforgettable journey through DuPont State Forest – roots down, branches up!

We’re back in the heart of Hendersonville and we’re bringing some spirited fun—with an awesome new race shirt and shiny finisher medal for every participant. Costumes? Highly encouraged. FOMO? Guaranteed if you skip it. Run or walk through the Historic 7th Avenue District with a crowd of costumed runners, then keep the party going at the Fall Festival just steps from the finish line!

Enjoy an evening of community and music with An Evening for All Souls: A Gathering of Song and Spirit, Sunday, Oct. 26 at Kanuga. The evening begins at 4 p.m. at Kanuga Lake with a community choir workshop, followed by dinner and luminaria making on the Rocking Chair Porch Lawn at 5 p.m., and concludes with a concert by musical artist Roots Grown Deep at 6 p.m., with a luminaria release on the lake at dusk. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket. Cost: Concert only, $9.94; Concert & Dinner, $21.33. Location: 471 Kanuga Chapel Dr. in Hendersonville. Registration and more info at kanuga.org/events.

Award-winning garden blogger, Lisa Wagner, encourages creative ways to plan, record, and reflect on your journeys through the seasons in your garden and landscape.

Blue Ridge Roller Derby Greet & Sweet at The Hop
Date: Saturday, November 1
Time: 2:00–4:00 p.m.
Location: The Hop Ice Cream Café and Pop Bubble Team, 640 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC
Admission: Free

Join Blue Ridge Roller Derby skaters for a fun afternoon at The Hop! Meet members from all three home teams and travel teams while enjoying delicious ice cream treats. Learn more about roller derby, watch some cool skate demos, and pick up official BRRD merchandise.

There will also be a raffle for free merch and tickets to an upcoming bout. Families are welcome—come learn about both junior and adult roller derby programs, and sign up to skate, volunteer, or just get involved with the BRRD community.

Don’t miss it—see you at The Hop this Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m.!

I9PA Release Party (10 Year Anniversary Edition)

Roll down to the Asheville Yards on Saturday, Nov. 1st for a day of bicycle fun in support of Asheville on Bikes and the AVL Unpaved project.

3-6pm: Bring the kids and your bikes for AoB’s pop-up bike park and the Maro inflatable obstacle course! Recyclery will be here to teach bike maintenance skills!

6pm: I9 raffle winners announced! We’re raffling off Industry Nine Custom Hydra2 Alloy Wheel Raffle in support of AVL Unpaved.

6:30-7:30pm: Newspaper challenge! Bring your bike and complete our newspaper delivery obstacle challenge.

The dance, bike, and beer release party goes until 9pm!

Get ready for another Blue Ridge Roller Derby Home Team Throwdown! The league’s three home teams — The Black Balsam Batties 🦇 The Swarm 🐝 and the Copperhead Outlaws 🐍 — will face off in a series of three thrilling 30-minute bouts on Sunday, November 9, at the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville.

Event details:

Doors open: 2 p.m.

First bout: 3 p.m.

Tickets: $10 (kids 11 and under get in free)

Location: Smoky Mountain Event Center, Waynesville, NC

This family-friendly event features halftime games, local food and drink vendors, and plenty of roller derby excitement — all just a 30-minute drive from Asheville.

Sun, Nov 9 • 3 pm | 60 minutes

Swing is more than a rhythm—it’s a manifesto. From the lean precision of Count Basie to the buoyant lift of Fletcher Henderson, the world-weary elegance of Billie Holiday to the dazzling joy of Ella Fitzgerald, swing pulses with momentum and style. Not just a byword of the Big Band era, swing is how jazz moves—on time and on purpose.

Jazz Is for Everyone is a series of five one-hour sessions exploring jazz music. Come to one or join them all—each session stands on its own and welcomes listeners at any level.

What You’ll Experience:

Guided listening
Live music demonstrations
Stories that connect the music to people, places, and intent
A space for questions, curiosity, and shared discovery

Jeremy Walker launched Jazz Is for Everyone in 2004 at his Brilliant Corners Jazz Club, with Wynton Marsalis serving as Artistic Advisor. The program was developed as an Educational Affiliate with Jazz at Lincoln Center. Since then, Walker’s been writing, composing, performing, producing, and speaking about why this music still matters.

Time for another Blue Ridge Roller Derby Home Team THROWWWDOWWWN! Our three home teams will be facing off again to see who can take the win in three thrilling 30 minute bouts at 3pm on Sunday, NOVEMBER 9TH, at Smoky Mountain vent Center.

Doors open at 2pm

The first bout begins at 3pm

Tickets are $10 (kids 11 and under get FREE admission) – link in bio in our Linktree or scan the QR code

Our bouts are FAMILY FRIENDLY with fun half time games, great food and drinks from local vendors, and in a beautiful setting at Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville, just a 30 minute drive from Asheville.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A VENDOR at this bout or our December game, please email [email protected]

We look forward to seeing you on the 9th!!!

Join medicinal herb farmers, buyers, and celebrate the season at the 10th Annual NC Medicinal Herb Grower Buyer Event in Mills River, NC!

Join naturalist and educator, Jessie Wilder, for a thoughtful conversation on the benefits of living a place-based life, Thurs. November 20 at Kanuga. Part of Kanuga’s Lunch & Learn series, the event begins with a forest bathing nature walk (weather permitting) at 10 a.m. followed by the conversation with Jessie Wilder at 11 a.m. Enjoy a buffet lunch in Kanuga’s dining hall after the presentation. Cost: $20 (plus tax and fees=$24.74). KANUGA, 471 Kanuga Chapel Dr. in Hendersonville. Registration and more info at kanuga.org/events.

Event registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunch-and-learn-discovering-a-sense-of-place-with-jessie-wilder-tickets-1849253971409

Details:
10–11AM, Forest Bathing with Aimee Bostwick: Join Aimee for a time to ground ourselves by engaging our senses and tuning into our relationship with Nature. Dress comfortably for the weather and be sure to wear comfortable shoes. We will end this time with a cup of tea and sharing.
11AM–12PM, Jessie Wilder on Sense of Place: Join us for a conversation with naturalist Jessie Wilder as she shares with us about our deep connection to place and how it forms us. Consider where you currently live and ask yourself this: I live here, but how much do I really know, love, and inhabit this place as home?
12–1:30PM, Lunch and Discussion in the Dining Hall

This is how South Asheville does Turkey Day! Kick off Thanksgiving morning with a relaxed 5K through the beautiful Biltmore Park neighborhood – where the vibes are festive, the shirts are vintage-cool, and the finisher medals are worth the effort! Whether you’re running, walking, or just trotting it out for the pie, this event is for everyone. Awards for festive costumes and top finishers in each age group!

Join us for the Woven Word Retreat – a cozy bohemian winter writing retreat for women nestled in the tranquil beauty of House Boheme. This is a transformative, creative, all-inclusive gathering designed to awaken your inner storyteller.

This 4-day, 3-night experience weaves poetry, movement, ritual, nourishment, and embodied storytelling to stir the creatrix within.

Guided by skilled and popular local facilitators who will help you explore your voice and connect deeply with yourself and others, you’ll have the space to write, reflect, and express your truth in a supportive, welcoming space.

Expect soul-nourishing practices like Yoga Nidra, writing workshops, yoga, and more, plus time to ground into nature and connect with a community of women.

Whether you’re new to writing or a seasoned storyteller, you’ll leave feeling inspired, empowered, and more aligned with your creative spirit.

Learn more and secure your spot at www.wovenwordretreat.com

Join Blue Ridge Roller Derby on December 7 for a lively, holiday-spirited finale to the home team season.

Ring in the holiday season with Blue Ridge Roller Derby as they present their spirited Reindeer Games Home Team Finale on Saturday, December 7, at the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville. Doors open at 2 p.m., and the first of three action-packed 30-minute bouts hits the track at 3 p.m.

This holiday-themed showdown brings all the cheer—with none of the quiet. Fans can expect fast skating, big hits, and the high-energy competition that defines roller derby, all wrapped in seasonal fun. The event is family-friendly and will feature festive halftime games along with delicious food and drinks from local vendors. The Smoky Mountain Event Center provides a beautiful backdrop for an afternoon of wintertime excitement, just a short 30-minute drive from Asheville.

Tickets are $10, and children 11 and under enjoy free admission. Online ticket sales close the day of the event, but tickets will also be available at the door.

Local businesses and artisans interested in being vendors are invited to contact [email protected].

Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/blue-ridge-roller-derbys-december-7-home-team-games

Spend an hour +/- in the studio making a sterling silver and enamel charm.

Choose your charm shape and your favorite color(s) of enamel. You’ll sift the enamel onto the silver charm then fire it in a kiln to flow the glass enamel onto the silver, and repeat until your piece is complete!

Leave class with a finished charm you made yourself! Optional chain available for in-class purchase.

Level: Beginner Friendly

Wear comfortable clothing and arrive about 15 minutes ahead to sign a waiver and get settled. Our study is in downtown Asheville and there are 2 parking garages close by: Harrah’s and Rankin

**Show up at Ignite Jewelry Studios anytime between 11am and 3pm to make your charms!

This is the perfect way to spend a part of your day while visiting our downtown Asheville metalsmithing studio and gallery. Come stamp and hammer a charm to your liking! Choose from more than 60 styles of metal stamps and a variety of jewelers hammers to complete your charm. You will start with a rectangular brass base, (or upgrade to sterling silver in a variety of shapes and styles) then choose your silver accent piece, and finally a gemstone of choice. After a quick demo by the instructor you can spend the next 45 minutes to complete your masterpiece.

You can also choose a copper ornament to stamp on this day!

Our magnetic tumbler will polish your piece to perfection and you have an option of some finishing patinas as well. Upgrade to earrings, make additional pendants for friends etc.

$45 Base Price includes a brass charm and base metal chain or 1 copper ornament with thread loop. (Some silver upgrades available for additional cost and additional pieces may be purchased to make gifts, extras, etc!)

This is family friendly, kid friendly ages 5 and up (but the littles will need help with the hammering), and a great rainy day or indoor activity in downtown Asheville!

A Lecture Demonstration Series for the Curious, the New, and the Devotee

Sun, Jan 18 • 3 pm | 60 Minutes
In the 1940s, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk took jazz to thrilling new heights. The tempos got faster, the harmonies bolder, and the rhythms more complex. Dancers sat down and leaned in to listen. It’s challenging. It’s beautiful. It’s music that asks you to catch up—and rewards you when you do.

Jazz Is for Everyone is a series of five one-hour sessions exploring jazz music. Come to one or join them all—each session stands on its own and welcomes listeners at any level.

What You’ll Experience:

Guided listening
Live music demonstrations
Stories that connect the music to people, places, and intent
A space for questions, curiosity, and shared discovery

Jeremy Walker launched Jazz Is for Everyone in 2004 at his Brilliant Corners Jazz Club, with Wynton Marsalis serving as Artistic Advisor. The program was developed as an Educational Affiliate with Jazz at Lincoln Center. Since then, Walker’s been writing, composing, performing, producing, and speaking about why this music still matters.

A Lecture Demonstration Series for the Curious, the New, and the Devotee

Sun, Feb 8 • 3 pm | 60 Minutes

In the late 1950s and ’60s, musicians like John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter, Ornette Coleman, and others claimed their place as artists. There wasn’t any real doubt before, but jazz now sat at the heights of contemporary art, fully claiming the aesthetic and compositional achievements originally won by artists like Mary Lou Williams and Ellington. Still, it never stopped being a soulful expression of individuality, inspiration, and a challenge to embrace our highest intent.

Jazz Is for Everyone is a series of five one-hour sessions exploring jazz music. Come to one or join them all—each session stands on its own and welcomes listeners at any level.

What You’ll Experience:

Guided listening
Live music demonstrations
Stories that connect the music to people, places, and intent
A space for questions, curiosity, and shared discovery

Jeremy Walker launched Jazz Is for Everyone in 2004 at his Brilliant Corners Jazz Club, with Wynton Marsalis serving as Artistic Advisor. The program was developed as an Educational Affiliate with Jazz at Lincoln Center. Since then, Walker’s been writing, composing, performing, producing, and speaking about why this music still matters.

The 5th Annual FuseFest: A Weekend Fused Glass Symposium

Experience the Art of Fused Glass
Welcome to FuseFest 2026! Join us for a weekend-long celebration of fused glass art at the beautiful Tryon Arts and Crafts School (TACS) in Tryon, North Carolina. Whether you’re a seasoned studio artist, an art educator looking for professional development, or a curious enthusiast, FuseFest is designed to inspire and connect you with the vibrant world of fused glass.

This immersive symposium offers a unique opportunity to learn from three acclaimed artists, explore new techniques, and connect with a passionate community.

What’s Happening at FuseFest?
Get ready for an action-packed weekend of learning and networking! FuseFest 2026 features a dynamic program model, including:

Hands-On Workshops: Take 3-hour workshops with each of our three visiting artists. Dive deep into new skills and techniques in a supportive studio environment.

Live Demonstrations & Lectures: Engage with the masters as they showcase their craft and share their artistic journeys.

Networking & Community: Mingle with fellow artists and enthusiasts at our Friday evening social, complete with live demonstrations, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction.

Cross-Curricular Activities: Experience the breadth of TACS’s offerings with live art demonstrations.

You’ll also enjoy delicious local cuisine throughout the weekend, with catered lunches from vendors like Katie D’s NY Bagels and Deli, and a special community dinner on Saturday evening. We’re proud to partner with local businesses like the GreenLife Inn, Tryon Coffeehouse Co-Op, and Tryon Bottle to make your stay in Tryon memorable.

The Harlem Globetrotters’ 100 Year Tour is coming to the ExploreAsheville.com Arena at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville on March 21, 2026.